ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Science & Technology
BRICS countries agree to STI led
Innovation Cooperation Action Plan proposed by India
All BRICS countries have agreed to the STI-led BRICS Innovation Cooperation Action Plan  proposed by India during 12th Meeting of BRICS S&T Steering Committee.
Indian had proposed the plan to facilitate sharing of experiences of each other’s innovation ecosystem and networking of innovators and entrepreneurs.
The Details of the Action Plan would be worked out by BRICS Science, Technology Innovation Entrepreneurship partnership  Working Group. It was agreed that the proposal may be forwarded to BRICS STIEP working group through the respective country's STI focal point.
Department of Science and Technology , India, hosted the 12th Meeting of BRICS S&T Steering Committee on 8th July, 2021. Scientific ministries and agencies of all BRICS countries participated in it.
The BRICS officials discussed in detail about the thematic areas for this year’s call for proposals at the meeting and unanimously agreed for collaboration in ten thematic areas. The thematic areas included Transient Astronomical Events and Deep Survey Science, Antimicrobial Resistance : Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment, Simulation and Big Data Analytics for Advanced Precision Medicine and Public Healthcare, HPC and Big Data for Sustainable Development: Solving Large Scale Ecological, Climate and Pollution Problems, Innovation and Entrepreneurship on Photonic, Nanophotonics, and Metamaterials for Addressing Bio-medicine, Agriculture, Food Industry and Energy Harvesting Issues, Materials Science and Nanotechnology for Addressing Environmental, Climate Change, Agricultural, Food, and Energy Issues, Renewable Energy including Smart Grid Integration, Ocean and Polar Science and Technology Water Treatment Technology Research in Aeronautics and Aerospace. These areas have been recommended by different thematic Working Groups.
Further, all countries agreed to thematic areas proposed by India for 6th edition of BRICS Young Scientist Conclave, which will be held in Bangalore during 13-16 September 2021. The three themes to be discussed at the conclave include Healthcare; Energy Solutions, Cyber-Physical System , and their applications.
India’s new proposal regarding inviting BRICS partnership in India’s Technology Summit, which got positive support from all countries, was suggested to be sent through BRICS Sherpa office for suggestions from all stakeholders. Accordingly, India's proposals will be circulated through the Ministry of External Affairs to BRICS counterpart for their consideration. From the Indian side, Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Varshney, Advisor & Head International Cooperation, coordinated the meeting.
SS/RKP
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Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Aid to Farmers During Covid Crisis
Number of farmers benefitted under major beneficiary oriented schemes of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Agriculture is a State subject. However, Government of India is implementing a number of Schemes, both Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored for the benefit of farmers and the agriculture sector as a whole. Beneficiaries are selected by State Governments and therefore, such details are maintained by them.
There is no uniform criterion adopted for selection of beneficiaries and this may differ from scheme to scheme. However, landholding is taken as the eligibility criterion for most schemes of the Department
- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi : The scheme aims to supplement the financial needs of all landholding farmers. Under the Scheme an amount of Rs.6000/- per year is released  by the Central Government online directly into the bank accounts of the eligible farmers. During Covid period, Rs 84,600 crore was paid to 10.52 crore beneficiaries under the scheme.
- Kisan Credit Card : KCC saturation drive was initiated by Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare  in mid February, 2020 in collaboration with Department of Financial Services  with the goal to provide universal access to institutional concessional credit to all farmers including Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries farmers with special focus on coverage of PM-KISAN beneficiaries. Under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan ’ campaign government has set a target of issuing additional 2.5 crore KCCs by the end of year, as an important step in achieving this goal. This will ensure availability of cheap credit to farmers in the time of crisis and injection of nearly 2 lakh crore in rural economy. So far, Banks have issued KCC for 2.18 crore eligible farmers. 2.5 Cr farmers will be covered in due course.
- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana : It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for Small and marginal farmers. 114721 farmers covered under the scheme during 2020-21.
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana : It is an affordable crop insurance scheme for farmers against all non preventable natural risks. During 2020-21, 608.9 lakh farmer applications were insured under the scheme.
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in Lok Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM urges everyone to visit Indiahandmade.com
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has urged everyone to visit Indiahandmade.com, A one-stop-shop for India's rich handloom & handicraft heritage.
Replying to a tweet by the Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, the Prime Minister tweeted :
"Do visit indiahandmade.com and add momentum to the movement towards being #VocalForLocal."
Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department conducts searches in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab
The Income Tax Department carried out search and seizure operations on 28.10.2021 in the cases of persons engaged in the business of processing & trading of dry fruits.
During the search operations, many incriminating documents including digital evidence were found and seized indicating that the assessee group has been inflating purchases of dry fruits exorbitantly over the years. Seized evidences also support the fact that unaccounted cash has been received back by the directors of the group against payment made for such purchases. Evidence was also unearthed that one of the assessees was maintaining a parallel set of books of accounts and there was a huge difference between the sales and purchases recorded in both the sets of books of accounts. One of the groups is also indulging in unaccounted purchases and sales of dry fruits. Excess stock to the tune of Rs. 40 crore has been found. The analysis of seized material and evidence collected reveals that one of the groups is also running a benami proprietary concern.
In both the groups, the claim of deduction under section 80IB of the Income-tax Act, 1961 has been found to be not genuine and is estimated to be around Rs. 30 crore.
The search action has resulted in seizure of unaccounted cash of Rs. 63 lakh and jewellery of Rs. 2 crore. Fourteen bank lockers have been placed under restraint. The search action has led to the detection of unaccounted income exceeding Rs. 200 crore.
Further investigations are in progress.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Union Minister Dr.Jitendra Singh says, in a span of just 15 days, more than 100 cases have been disposed of by the CAT, Srinagar Bench
The Minister reviews the functioning of Central Administrative Tribunal specially the newly created Benches in Jammu and Srinagar with Chairman, CAT Smt. Manjula Das in New Delhi
Union Minister of State  Science & Technology; Minister of State  Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has hailed the high disposal rate of the newly created Central Administrative Tribunal  Benches of Jammu and Srinagar.
While reviewing the functioning of the two exclusive separate CAT Benches of Jammu and Srinagar respectively along with Chairman CAT Ms Manjula Das, the Minister was glad to note that in a span of just 15 days, more than 100 cases had been disposed of by the Srinagar CAT Bench while the Jammu Bench had disposed of over 6,000 cases in over one year.
The Srinagar CAT Bench was inaugurated by Dr Jitendra Singh very recently on 23rd of November this year while the Jammu Bench was inaugurated by him in June last year. The two CAT Benches in J&K deal exclusively with service matters of government employees.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, Jammu & Kashmir is the only Union Territory in the country to have two CAT Benches and this signifies the impetus that the Government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives to the Union Territory of J&K and the well-being of its Government Officers/Staff so as to keep them a motivated force which would ultimately accelerate the development of the UT.
The Minister said, two Benches for J&K will go a long way in not only reducing the burden of various Courts, but would also provide to the persons covered by the Administrative Tribunals, speedy relief in respect of their grievances and service matters. It is worth highlighting that both the buildings of CAT at Jammu and Srinagar respectively have been allotted by the UT Government.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed that the Jurisdiction of Jammu Bench of CAT extends up to 10 districts of UT of J&K and one district Leh from UT of Ladakh, while the jurisdiction of Srinagar Bench extends up to 10 districts of UT of J&K and one district Kargil from UT of Ladakh.
Dr Jitendra Singh remarked that the Modi Government is committed to transparency and “justice for all”. The people - friendly reforms undertaken in the last seven years have benefitted the entire country including the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. He said that more than 800 Central laws, which were not applicable to J&K earlier, have been made applicable after 5th August 2019 for the benefit of people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, so that they can enjoy the same rights as people in the rest of India.
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Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar meets artisans and entrepreneurs at India Handicrafts Fair in Noida
Digital platform important for promotion of Indian skill-linked businesses - Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar
Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Electronics and IT, visited the India Handicrafts Fair organised by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts at Noida, Uttar Pradesh, where he interacted with entrepreneurs working in traditional skill-based businesses. Urging the EPCH to establish a digital platform connecting all entrepreneurs in the sector to a wider market, the Minister said it is the vision Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to promote and support traditional skills and handicrafts of India.
Shri Chandrasekhar said that traditional skill-linked businesses are at the core of the Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat predicated on building the strength of village-level local economies. He recommended that a digital platform be built for all handicraft artisans and entrepreneurs be linked with clients from India and the world so they can carry out transactions easily. This will not only enable ease of business in the sector but also help in achieving the Prime Minister's goal of doubling exports from India.
During the visit that lasted over three hours, the Minister discussed with entrepreneurs the availability of skilled workforce in the traditional and heritage skill-based industry. The discussion covered a range of issues including market trends in handicraft, demand in the sector, challenges faced by craftsmen and artisans and their views on how to promote this sector further. Shri Chandrasekhar also talked about the disruption caused by COVID-19 in almost all spheres of our lives, saying that although the pandemic has impacted all economies of the world, it also led to a phenomenal increase in digital adoption. He said the need to have a digital platform to connect entrepreneurs to customers is very important in the post-COVID world order.
He visited various stalls on display at the 52nd edition of IHGF Delhi Autumn 2021, including Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland, Karnataka and Kerala. He said the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is planning targeted pilot projects for these traditional skill-linked businesses to help them expand and grow. The Minister had recently visited local handicraft clusters in Manipur, Nagaland and Jammu & Kashmir and announced projects to support them. The Minister said the Government is fully committed to promoting Indian traditional skill-linked businesses around the world and assured all entrepreneurs of complete support to help them grow.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
11th Session of the India-Belarus Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation held
Substantial progress made on expanding cooperation across all sectors of focus between India and Belarus
India and Belarus agree to promote cooperation among various states in India and regions in Belarus, especially in focus areas
The 11th Session of the India-Belarus Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation was held on November 10, 2022 in New Delhi. Shri Som Prakash, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, led the Indian delegation and H. E. Mr Vladimir Makei, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, led the Belarusian delegation.
The Intergovernmental Commission reviewed the results of bilateral cooperation that took place after the tenth session of the Commission in 2020. While expressing satisfaction at the progress made in regard to some projects, the Commission also directed concerned Ministries and Departments to focus on key sectors in the trade & investment spheres to finalise concrete outcomes.
On the economic front, there has been substantial progress with expanding cooperation across all sectors of focus. India and Belarus reiterated their strong desire to further broaden their cooperation with emphasis on key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, financial services, science and technology, heavy industries, culture, tourism, and education.
The two ministers directed their respective business communities to engage with each other in these sectors to further mutually beneficial cooperation.
The two sides agreed to promote cooperation among various states in India and regions in Belarus, especially in focus areas.
India and Belarus are strategic partners since 1991. The two countries cooperate on several areas. This visit was an opportunity to review the existing relationship and find out ways and means to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
Ministry of Finance
Auction for Sale  of Government Stocks
Government of India has announced the Sale  of  “New Government Stock of 5 year tenor” for a notified amount of Rs. 3,000 crore  through yield based auction,  “6.68 per cent Government Stock, 2031” for a notified amount of Rs. 4,000 crore  through price based auction,  “7.73 per cent Government Stock, 2034” for a notified amount of Rs. 2,000 crore  through price based auction, and  “7.06 per cent Government Stock, 2046” for a notified amount of Rs. 3,000 crore  through price based auction. Subject to the limit of Rs. 12,000 crore, being total notified amount, GoI will have the option to retain additional subscription up to Rs. 1,000 crore against any one or more of the above securities. The auctions will be conducted using multiple price method. The auctions will be conducted by the Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai Office, Fort, Mumbai on April 13, 2018 .
Up to 5% of the notified amount of the sale of the stocks will be allotted to eligible individuals and Institutions as per the Scheme for Non-Competitive Bidding Facility in the Auction of Government Securities.
Both competitive and non-competitive bids for the auction should be submitted in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution  system on April 13, 2018. The non-competitive bids should be submitted between 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. and the competitive bids should be submitted between 10.30 a.m. and 12.00 noon.
The result of the auctions will be announced on April 13, 2018  and payment by successful bidders will be on April 16, 2018 .
The Stocks will be eligible for “When Issued” trading in accordance with the guidelines on ‘When Issued transactions in Central Government Securities’ issued by the Reserve Bank of India vide circular No. RBI/2006-07/178 dated November 16, 2006 as amended from time to time.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Revival of Conventional Water Bodies
It is for the State Governments concerned to undertake enumeration, protection and management, including revival and repair, of water bodies in their respective States. Role of Government of India is limited to providing technical support, and partial financial support in some cases, as per the norms of the existing schemes being implemented by Government of India.
Central assistance for restoration of water bodies is provided by this Ministry under the scheme “Repair, Renovation and Restoration  of Water Bodies”, which is a component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Har Khet Ko Pani . The scheme aims at restoring the lost irrigation potential by improvement and restoration of existing water bodies.
Under the RRR of Water Bodies scheme, XII Plan onwards a total of 2,228 water bodies with an estimated cost of Rs.1,914.86 crore, have been taken up for restoration in various States. Upto March, 2021, central assistance of Rs.469.69 crore has been released to the States under the scheme, and in this period RRR of 1,549 water bodies has been completed.
It is for the State Governments concerned to undertake enumeration, protection and management of water bodies in their respective States. However, this Ministry undertakes census of minor irrigation schemes from time to time, with the participation of the State Governments. The census also captures information pertaining to certain specific water bodies in the country. As per the latest census, being 5th
census of minor irrigation schemes with reference year 2013-14, there are 5,16,303 water bodies in the rural areas of the country, which are being used for minor irrigation. Out of these, 53,396 water bodies are not in use for various reasons such as non-availability of water, siltation, salinity, etc. State-wise details are annexed herewith.
This information was given by the Minister of state for Jal Shakti & Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
PIB Headquarters
Kerala will be second to none in going digital: Union Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Skeptics of digital payments do not understand what it means for the poor: Minister of State M. J. Akbar:
Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shri. Asok Gajapathy Raju has said that as a nation a mind-set has to be developed for becoming digital. Inaugurating the Digi Dhan Mela in Thiruvananthapuram today, he said it is in the interest of all to modernise which will benefit every citizen of the country. The Minister pointed out that Kerala being the first literate state in the country will be second to none in digitalising its economy. He urged the people to utilise this opportunity to modernise to make our dreams of future materialise.
In his Special Address at the function, Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri. M.J. Akbar said the skeptics of digitalisation have no understanding of what it means to the poor. He said what is happening today is a tremendous exercise in cooperative federalism. The country is coming together for a most important mission of our times. He pointed out that the digital technology is going to be used increasingly by women which will lead to their economic empowerment.
Shri. Akbar said this is a unity led revolution as technology is difference neutral. Technology does not recognise you belong to which class or creed or community or what language you speak. Technology is means for development of all. It is a great unifier and is also a great honesty revolution.
Pointing out that all cash is not black money, the Minister said, but all black money is cash. He said only one per cent of Indians pay tax and this happened only because those rich who were in command of the economy of this country refused to honour the commitment and obligation towards the poor. Tax is the legitimate transfer of wealth from those who have advantageous positions to those who are deprived.
Shri. Akbar said the Digital revolution will increase the spending for anti- poverty programmes and economic empowerment programmes. He said already the first benefits of demonetization are visible. Banks now has the money and all over the country one get bank loans with less interest before demonetisation. Terming this as truly a gender revolution, Shri. Akbar said nearly sixty per cent of loans in MUDRA are given to women. He said this is the technology that will take us to the heights of 21st Century.
Earlier, both Ministers Shri. Asok Gajapathy Raju and Shri. M.J. Akbar went around the stalls put up for familiarising the public various digital payment options including mobile applications and wallets. Help desks were also set up for Adhaar enrolment.
More than thirty banks, mobile wallet operators, telecom companies, Aadhar enabled payment system vendors and other agencies involved in digital payments participated in the event.
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Vice President's Secretariat
Vice-President to be Chief Guest at International Day of Yoga, 2023
VP to lead the Mass Yoga Demonstration at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
VP to attend Aarti of Narmada ji on the visit
The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar will be the Chief Guest at the International Day of Yoga  celebrations in Jabalpur on 21st June 2023. He will address the gathering and later lead the mass yoga demonstration at the venue. The motto for IDY 2023 is “Yoga for ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’”.
It may be noted that it has been nine years since the UN recognised June 21 as the International Day of Yoga through a resolution in 2014. While the global celebration of IDY 2023 will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, the National celebration of IDY 2023 will be led by Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Shri Dhankhar will reach Jabalpur on June 20th, where he, along with Smt.  Sudesh Dhankhar will offer prayers and attend the Aarti of Narmada ji at Gwarighat.
Hon’ble Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Mangubhai Patel, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and other dignitaries are expected to be present at the IDY 2023 event.